At the eastern end of the Stradun, across the street from the Church of St. Blaise, is the bronze Statue of Marin Držić. At the bottom of the seated statue is a plaque that reads “MARIN DRŽIĆ (1508-1567) – On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of his birth – City of Dubrovnik.”
Držić (1508-1567) was a famous Croatian playwright and writer often called the Shakespeare of Dubrovnik. Many regard Držić as one of the most important Renaissance playwrights and prose authors in Croatian literature.
Before being relocated to the front of the Marin Držić Theatre, the statue stood in Babin Kuk, a suburb northwest of Old Town.
Recently, tourists have started rubbing the bronze statue’s nose, causing a shiny spot. They believe in the legend that rubbing the nose of the statue or sitting in Držić’s lap brings good luck.
Statue of Marin Držić Information
Hours
24 hours
Admission
Free
Address
Ul. Pred Dvorom 2, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia
GPS Coordinates: 42.64051,18.11058
Map
Nearby Sights
Church of St. Blaise
The Church of St. Blaise, located on the eastern end of Stradun, is one of the most iconic and famous landmarks in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The church, dedicated to Saint Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik, dates back to the early 18th century. A Romanesque church stood at this location from the 14th century until the middle of the 17th century.
Small Onofrio's Fountain
Located at the eastern end of Stradun, off Luža Square, is the historic Small Onofrio's Fountain, an ornately decorated octagonal fountain. The small fountain, often overlooked by tourists, played an essential role in the history of Dubrovnik's water supply. Italian architect Onofrio della Cava designed and constructed the fountain between 1440 and 1442.
Luža Square
Luža Square, at the eastern end of Stradun, is one of Dubrovnik's busiest and most historically significant central squares. It has been an important meeting point for centuries and is home to some of the city's most significant landmarks, making it a must-visit spot in the Old Town. Since the Middle Ages, Luža Square has been a central meeting place for citizens of the Republic of Ragusa, present-day Dubrovnik.
Orlando's Column
In the center of Luža Square, on the eastern end of Stradun, is Orlando's Column, a historic stone monument dating back to 1418. Carved into the statue is a heroic medieval knight who defended Dubrovnik from invaders. In 1418, Bonino di Jacopo, an Italian master sculptor from Milan, built the column with the help of local sculptor Antun Dubrovčanin.